Shots fired at Radio FM Cerrillos in Salta

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(FOPEA/IFEX) - On the morning of 26 November 2010, unknown individuals fired three shots at the front door of journalist Carlos Villanueva's home. The journalist owns the radio station FM Cerrillos 90.9, which he also operates from his home in the town of San José de los Cerrillos, outside the provincial capital of Salta.

The station's producer of the Atilio Mamaní radio station, who was at FM Cerillos when the attack took place, told FOPEA that one of the bullets was fired at the window of the radio station where Villanueva's wife, Luisa Tilca, was hosting a music programme.

Villanueva said the shots flew over his wife's head. Tilca was seated at the time and when she heard the shots, she called out for help on the programme. Villanueva's teenage sons were in the house but they were unhurt. Previously on 24 August 2010, arsonists attacked FM Cerrillos and one of Villanueva's sons, Lucas Villanueva, was injured in that attack.

Tilca told the authorities that she believed the assailants thought Villanueva was at the radio station, but at the time the shots were fired, Villanueva had already left.

Villanueva said that he did not know who could be responsible for the attack. He has since filed a report with the local police station.

Pablo Kosiner, the minister of interior relations, security and human rights, expressed support for Villanueva and vowed to investigate the incident.

FOPEA condemns the attack on the radio station, the second in four months, and demands a police investigation of both incidents. FOPEA also demands that the authorities guarantee the security of the Villanueva family and freedom of expression in the town of Cerrillos.

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